Chapter IV - The Fiery Rapture

It was a strange feeling not to be woken up by his sister. Instead, I was blinded by a huge LCD with a bear on it. And worst of all ... he was awake before me too, of course. So I had to listen to his morning beeping in surround sound.

How stupid it was to go to school now. Whether I don't want to do anything. And all such nonsense. But that's how I decided. I wanted a normal day at school. I wanted to meet normal people. I wanted to continue my research as normal. I didn't care about anything else.

I also have a limit of bullshit that I can take. And this limit was exceeded by far yesterday. So I didn't worry about what was and what will be. I knew this way of thinking couldn't work forever, but at the moment I really didn't care.

For the first time in years, I hadn't eaten anything at breakfast time. I was actually going to have food teleported here. But Nut wouldn't use his ability to steal. Of course, that's where the tin bulb puts a spoke. So I took the little money I had in my school bag and hoped to buy something from the school baker later.

When it was time to leave, I decided to teleport to the train station right away, as I could probably attract too much attention on the bus. I now knew about the side effects and wanted to test how far I could get with this method of movement. I didn't dare to go straight to school because it's a few kilometers away and I didn't want to arrive there completely broken.

Nut transported me as planned and when I arrived I immediately noticed the dizziness. But it wasn't nearly as bad that I couldn't stand it. After just testing it once, I had been able to get a very solid assessment of how I could make the most of this ability. At least I was quite confident to have gained a certain familiarity for the whole thing.

I went to the usual place where Alex, Markus and I always stood to wait for the train. But only one of our trio was on time. I felt guilty.

"Hi, Markus."

Markus: "...Hi."

Markus seemed surprised when he heard my voice. Before he could say anything, I got ahead of him.

"I'm sorry... I don't even know." Not exactly my finest words, but it's all I wanted to say right now. I knew the two had been worrying a lot. I bowed to him and took an apologetic pose. Markus looked up at the sky as he always did, closed his eyes, opened them again and then looked at me.

Markus: "I don't expect all people to be smart, but they don't necessarily have to be stupid either." I felt how my tear sacs wanted to fill up again, but this time I suppressed it.

"I know by now that I am an idiot, you don't have to tell me that too."

Markus: "That's good then." After that there was an uncomfortable silence. But it didn't last long, cause chatter started next to us. Some people slowly recognized me and began to mumble. There were also people who knew me well, so I hoped that the train would come soon.

But then I was touched from the side. "Well, Alex."

I flinched. That voice immediately gave me goosebumps. The last time I heard it, I had lost control of myself. I wanted to sink into the ground. There's not much in my life I've been more embarrassed about than this moment.

"Morning... Noah." I said very naturally. As if nothing had ever happened. I didn't want to turn around, because where Noah is, the others aren't far away. I really didn't want to explain myself to them. I was lucky yesterday that Noel didn't have a chance to squeeze me any further. But I knew that it couldn't stay that way forever.

Marcus: "I think you have something to tell us, Alex."

"Hehe ... what do mean? Everything is the same with me. Nothing to report ... You, you're the ones acting weird. Don't you usually take the next train?"

Noah: "We're making an exception especially for you today. Don't play stupid Alex! What was that yesterday?!" Noah turned me around and grabbed me by the neck. Only now could I see his deadly serious look. It was strange to see Noah resorting to violence, as he usually prefers to use words, but in this situation a lot of things were not as they should be.

Both Marks made no sign of helping me against Noah. Did I really deserve this? In situations like these, where I no longer knew where up and down was, only one thing helped me. I tried to reflect on what happened and began to analyze the person in front of me. And preferably quickly.

Noah would never react like this without a strong reason, even if I am relatively easy to outdo in terms of strength. Despite his firm grip, I felt his whole body trembling. His heartbeat was also extremely fast and loud. Anxiety?

I smiled to myself. Noah was no different than I was yesterday. He too had become scared after seeing the terrible side of this force.

Noah: "If you don't want to talk, I'll have to force it some other way." Noah reached out for a punch. Only now did I notice that Noel and Jakob were also present a little aside from us, but neither of them wanted to take part in the conversation.

Marcus: "Hey, that's going too far! We don't know how he's guilty of this."

Noah: "Yeah, but there's no other way to find out. The boy never talks. "

"I wouldn't risk that, Noah. I can't control this power."

Noah: "Pah! Like I'm afraid of you! Don't make me laugh."

He put me back on the floor.

Noah: "But the people in town were afraid. Afraid of what's inside of you. And then that's what I'm afraid of too. Because whatever it is, it seems to stop at nothing."

Noel wanted to intervene, but Marcus held him back.

Marcus: "Why has Noel been defending your side all morning? Something happened between you. But he's avoiding the issue all the time ... "

The conflict reached its climax here. I would have wished to clarify all open questions now, but of course something had to come up.

Jakob: "Hey, do you hear that?" In the distance you could hear a bunch of sirens ringing.

Noel: "Police?" The noise grew louder and louder and it became obvious that a whole convoy of emergency vehicles were coming this way.

Marcus: "What are they doing here?"

Noah: "I'd like to know that too." In a few seconds, the platform was literally mobbed by police cars. About fifty policemen got out of them and pushed all the students off the platform. In no time at all, the entire area was cordoned off and inaccessible.

"We ask all people to remove themselves from the platform! From now on this place is under police protection!" shouted a policewoman through a megaphone.

Wait, is she even a cop? The young woman wore a somewhat questionable outfit and not the standard police uniform. Her outfit had her name on it. Judith Junks.

Of course the four boys rushed to her immediately. I wanted to follow unobtrusively, but Markus stopped.

"Is something wrong?"

Markus: "...no. Come on."

Noel: "Hey, what's going on here?"

Judith: "Didn't you hear anything, Kiddo?" She unpacked her megaphone and aimed at Noel.

Judith: "We...! Close...! Off...! This...! Place!"

Noel: "Ah! I am not deaf! What's the point?"

Judith: "That doesn't interest you young man."

Noah: "Wouldn't it be better if everyone knew what's going on?"

Judith: "Of course... so that panic breaks out and I lose my job? No thanks, I'll pass!"

Noah: "Have a look! The panic that you are trying to prevent has already broken out! Nobody will be able to remain calm with such an act you pull off here!"

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Noah was right. All the students, regardless of their age, were disturbed by the sudden appearance of the bizzies. After yesterday's events, everyone was afraid of an incident.

Judith: "You are a smartass, aren't you? ...Nevertheless, I can't share strictly confidential information with a few tots. Even you should understand that."

Marcus: "It's obvious that it has to do with the train that is arriving here any moment. Otherwise the cops wouldn't have had to hurry to secure everything."

Noel: "Oh, fuck... What is happening here? I must know!"

Noah: "You see we won't give up until you give up!"

Judith: "Very well. You can't do anything anymore anyway, so it makes no difference to me. The train that passes the platform here in a few minutes... it can't stop anymore."

Noel: "What!?"

Judith: "The train driver has no control over the metal giant anymore. The train is driven and controlled from somewhere by an unknown source. So far there is no way to stop it. Even the emergency brake only slows the vehicle briefly before it starts moving again. But our best people are at work to prevent a catastrophe."

Marcus: "... and why are you here?"

Judith: "To minimize the potential damage."

Noah and his silver tongue had managed to persuade Judith to come out with the terrifying news. Again and again it amazes me how he does this. But the obtained information caused great terror in all of us. If the train cannot be stopped, it will derail at the end of the line at the last station and all passengers will rush into the station building at full speed. Of course we all wanted to prevent that. At least that's what I thought.

Noah: "Jakob!"

Jakob: "Already on the way!" Jakob took his legs in his hand and left immediately.

Judith: "Where is he going? Follow him!" Jakob is not the best runner, but he has long legs that allow him to cover a lot of distance in just a few steps. The men in blue chased him without success.

Judith: "What are you guys up to?!" She drew her gun.

Judith: "I will not hesitate to arrest you if you interfere with police work in any way!"

"You'd better worry about stopping the train!" slipped out of me.

Markus & Marcus: "Idiot!" hissed it from both sides.

Judith: "Huh... oh... of course. Now everything makes sense! Haha... hahaha! Who do we have here? Isn't this the boy who walked berserk through town and school yesterday? No wonder I run into you here! I'm really sorry, but you're so inconspicuous that I didn't even recognize you. But yes, that also explains why we didn't find you yesterday. Oh, how nice that you decided to walk right into my arms. Perfect! One less problem to worry about. Arrest the boy immediately! And his friends with him!"

She pointed with her long fingernail at me. Within a few words, her voice went through a change of emotions from surprised, to crazy, to spiteful, to relieved and then to serious. I got the impression that she really had to love her job, whatever it was.

Markus: "No chance! You already took one Alex away from me! I won't let you get the other one too!" Markus stood protectively in front of me.

Judith: "Ah, you mean the lump from yesterday? Yes, I thought it was nice how cooperative he was yesterday when we found him at this stone shelter." She smiled sadistically.

Judith: "Oh, could it be that you were the boy hiding behind the rock?"

Markus: "Tss..."

"What did you do to Alex?!"

Judith: "Oh, don't worry! He's fine.... for now.... We only had a very long... um... conversation yesterday and I have to say that he held up really well. Haha! But don't be afraid, you will soon come to visit him in his new stay. And if you are a good boy he can go home today! Or maybe not. Haha!"

I knew she was playing with my feelings. Just like everyone else. But this time I had to keep a cool head. I couldn't let that force take over again. Alex sacrificed himself for me yesterday to give me time to calm down. I felt so infinitely guilty.

Two policemen approached Markus and me. I knew that I couldn't defend myself like yesterday. But I couldn't give up now, not after what everyone had done for me.

Noel: "Stop! Leave Alex alone! We have to stop this train! And he's the only one who is able to do that!"

"Me?"

Judith: "You must have watched too many movies, my boy! I know exactly what you're getting at. But delete the thought immediately from your undeveloped brain cells! We definitely can't do that!"

Marcus: "But you saw him yesterday, didn't you? He made a whole police unit look old, he took out an armed person and he practically put a whole intersection of streets into contamination. You know that he's capable."

"I am?"

Judith: "That's crazy! Don't think I'll get involved in your fairy tales! This brat is supposed to stop a train just like that? Best of all with his bare dainty handy-pandies! You don't even know in what kind of trouble I'd get into if this went wrong!"

Noah: "Sounds to me like someone's scared."

Judith: "You're really starting to piss me off, lad! I'm not going to put a student on the rails to stop 120 tons at a speed of 80 km/h! I don't know what it looks like with you salad heads, but at least my common sense suggests against it!"

Noah: "Not even if he promises to voluntarily give himself in?"

"WHAT!?"

Judith: "...oh, now it's getting interesting. How do I know he's not cheating on me?"

Noah: "I don't think you have to worry about that." They both looked at me as if they had either just bought some pretty expensive cheese or discovered America second. I was not sure.

Judith: "Do your best, boy!" She smiled and raised her arm as if she was cheering me on.

"I don't know if I'll be able to...

Noel: "Alex, now it's up to you! You will only have one try and it has to be a success!"

Marcus: "You have the chance to save three wagons full of people! Don't waste it!"

"Guys! I don't want to put any pressure on, but I don't even know how to activate this power again."

Markus, who was deep in thought until just now, looked at me and grabbed my shoulder. He took a deep breath in and out.

Markus: "In moments like these it doesn't matter how things work, just that they work. You are the only one who can save these people now. Don't forget that!"

I hadn't had time to think about that yet. I now had the lives of dozens of people in my hands. Including...

"ISA!"

Markus: "Huh?"

"Isa is on this train! I can't let anything happen to her. Not... not if I can prevent it!" Isa was also someone from my class. She was a girl I always got along with, actually. I knew she was on the train. I took out my cell phone from my bag and immediately dialed Isa's number.

"Please answer! Please answer!"

Isa: "Hello?" I heard her nervousness in her voice.

"Thank God! Hi Isa, it's Alex."

Isa: "Alex, it's terrible! The train doesn't stop anymore and the emergency brake doesn't work properly!"

"I know, but everything is fine, okay! Don't be afraid!"

Isa: "Easy for you to say. The mood here is getting uncomfortable! People are panicking! The train driver hasn't even bothered to make an announcement to apologize for the anomaly!"

"Do not worry! I'll take care of it!"

Isa: "But please don't do anything crazy like yesterday."

"... I'm afraid I can't promise that ..." I said petty.

Isa: "What? I couldn't understand you."

"Is there anyone else with you, Isa?"

Isa: "Yes, Fina and Lia. Why do you ask?" Two other classmates.

Judith: "You're running out of time, boys! What you're going to do?"

Noah: "I'm out guys."

"Huh! What do you mean?!"

Noah: "I'm leaving. You can manage without me."

"You can't fucking leave now! So many people are in danger!"

My words didn't reach him. He strolled casually away from the action. Noel and Marcus didn't interfere. I felt abandoned.

Judith: "Oh... is someone getting cold feet? Maybe not as brave as we think we are."

Noah: "If I were afraid, you'd know that I'm afraid." He looked Judith straight in the eye. "I only know when it's time for me to leave the stage!"

Judith: "Pfff!"

"You're staying here, right?" Marcus and Noel nodded. My emotional level was near it's limit. But I knew I had to pull myself together one more time.

Isa: "Hey! What's wrong?"

Fina: "Who are you on the phone with?"

Isa: "With Alex."

Lia: "He's here?"

Fina: "Does that really surprise you?"

"Markus, do you have an idea how I can do this?"

Markus: "What do you mean?"

"Just theoretically, I manage to activate these powers again somehow...

Markus: "Yes ...?"

"You think they'd be strong enough to pull this off?"

Markus: "Why you asking me that? I have no idea how they work." I looked at him desperately.

Markus: "...ok... based on the damage you caused yesterday, this might be one caliber too heavy. So I would try everything to ease the impact with the train. "

"Okay, here's the plan." My mind had thrown together some ideas that were so crazy that they could only have come from me.

"I will need all the help I can get. Isa, are you still there?"

Isa: "Yes, of course!"

"I want you to pull the emergency brake as soon as you're in front of the platform in Vanishburgh, all right?"

Isa: "Ok! Leave it to me!"

"Marcus, I'll give you my phone. As soon as you see the train at the signal in the distance, you give Isa the signal to pull the brake. I think you can best estimate when the moment's right."

Marcus: "Got it."

"But first we have to take care of the extra wagons. If I only have to brace myself against a third of the weight, it will greatly reduce the strain on my body. Isa could you put Lia on the phone for me?"

Isa: "He wants to talk to you."

Lia: "Yes, Alex?"

"How's the situation?"

Lia: "How do you think it fucking is? What do you want?"

"I want you and Fina to storm the train driver's cabin together and uncouple the two rear wagons. That should be possible to do electrically from there. You're sitting in the very front wagon, right?"

Lia: "Your luck! You owe us something for this."

"Isn't it enough for you that I save your life?"

Lia: "Pah! Don't push it!" Suddenly, I heard a window shatter.

Judith: "Hey! What are they doing in there?"

"How long will it take you to get here?"

Fina: "Two minutes, I would say."

I handed my cell phone to Marcus.

"Noel, my strength won't last forever. Should anything go wrong in case of emergency, I want you to save me from the rails."

Noel: "You can count on me."

"Well! Break a leg!" I patted my cheeks and positioned myself on the track. The train was about to arrive at any moment.